What Is a BMS Reset? When and How to Do It

Battery management systems for electric vehicles play a huge role in keeping EVs operational. They keep the batteries in good condition to maximize the vehicle’s performance.

But what exactly does this system do, how does it work, and what makes resetting it so important?

What Does “BMS” Stand For?

The BMS stands for “Battery Management System”. It’s an assembly that contains the batteries that power an electric vehicle and performs various functions to keep the battery operational, including the following:

• Monitoring battery levels
• Stabilizing batteries to prevent them from overheating
• Protecting the battery from damage
• Optimizing battery performance
• Allocating battery power to different parts of the vehicle

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Drivers need to pay close attention to the BMS because it tracks the overall state of health (SoH) of a battery.

The BMS uses sensors that monitor the current, voltage, and temperature of the battery. Then, it adjusts and allocates how much charge the battery takes in and puts out based on its findings.

The system also sets the optimum range and parameters under which the battery should operate.

Why Should You Reset the BMS?

Resetting the BMS restores the system to its default settings, allowing it to make adjustments to battery performance according to the vehicle. The reset helps extend a car battery’s lifespan by ensuring efficient power use.

A reset can also fix BMS issues because it clears the system’s data and reboots the sensors, allowing the BMS to gather data and start anew.

Resetting the BMS is only necessary when the system malfunctions or the battery isn’t performing as usual. It’s also a must if the BMS was recently installed to let it make the adjustments needed to optimize battery performance.

Signs the BMS Needs to Be Reset

You might need to reset the BMS if the car battery drains quickly or overheats. Irregular charging patterns and frequent false alarms are also signs to watch out for.

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Batteries Drain Quickly

Batteries that can’t hold their charge well are either defective or being mismanaged by your vehicle’s BMS. That’s why a battery that empties quicker than usual might indicate the need for a reset.

Overheating Batteries

If a battery overheats due to a malfunctioning BMS, it runs the risk of exploding via thermal runaway. Not only can this permanently damage your vehicle, but it can also injure you and other people.

When the car battery overheats, it can affect engine performance and emit smoke and foul sulfuric smells. In some cases, it might even make hissing noises.

Frequent False Alarms

The BMS manages the battery to ensure it operates within certain parameters using data from sensors that measure electronic activity and battery consumption.

When these sensors detect that the battery is malfunctioning, they trigger an alarm to indicate that something is wrong.

A faulty BMS can trigger these alarms even when the battery works as intended. In this case, it’s a good idea to reset the BMS. It’ll recalibrate the system and its sensors, potentially stopping the BMS from making the same mistakes.

Inconsistent Battery Charging

If the voltage allocated to the battery when charging fluctuates drastically, resetting the BMS could stabilize it.